At The Heart Of The Matter

Authors Note: Thanks again to ALL my reviewers! Harry Potter is still not mine!

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(Sunday, August 11)

For the first time in five years, Harry awoke to a completely empty house. He had even given Dobby and Winky the next few days off, handing them each 100 galleons and telling them to go have some well earned fun. Stretching, he noticed that it was after 8:00am and with a small smile, went for a long soak. No Moody barking at him to get a move on, no Chen yelling at him to alter his stance, and no noise coming from any where in his home. He sighed.

Alicia and her parents were coming over for lunch today, to spend the day getting to know Harry. Dinner had gone well the night before, but Harry knew Marcel wanted to have that talk, and soon. Harry was actually looking forward to it. With nothing better to do for the next 2 hours, he got out of the bathtub and headed for the gym for his workout. He may not have Moody barking at him, but he was not going to become lazy. At 10:30am, he headed in to shower and dress, choosing a summer casual outfit of black linen pants, cream silk t-shirt, and sandals. He cooked a Thai style lunch, and when 12:00 rolled around, he was waiting at the front gates when his guests arrived.

They lunched out by the pool, enjoying the warm breezes, and Harry explained how he had come into possession of the Manor after Rhonda had asked. After lunch, Alicia and Harry showed them around the Manor, and took them out to the amusement park.

“Harry, you have a beautiful home….if a little unusual.” said Rhonda, with a weird look towards the roller coaster.

“Thank you, Mrs. Spinnet. Some of the changes that I made, such as the added bedrooms and enlarged rooms and gym will be reverted over this coming week, but there are a few pieces that I want put back into the fun park. We had such a limited amount of space, that I removed several of the rides to give us more outdoor space. These amusement parks are very common in the muggle world, just not privately owned, usually.” Harry said with a grin.

“Mum, why don’t you and I take the coaster for a ride….I know you like a bit of adventure!” said Alicia.

“Is it safe….I’ve never seen anything like this!” Rhonda said with a chuckle.

“It’s perfectly safe…Harry even added a few charms, just to be sure. Come On!” and with that, Alicia grabbed her mother’s hand and off they went.

“Harry, let’s sit.” Marcel said after motioning to the bench not to far away. When they both were seated, watching the women load onto the coaster, Marcel, looking very serious said, “Harry, I can see you care for my daughter, but I’ve heard stories that concern me. What are your intentions?”

“Sir, I understand your concerns….trust me! My past was the biggest hurdle we had to overcome in order for your daughter to even consider dating me. You should be very proud of her, sir, she has strong beliefs, and sticks to them. I admire her a lot for that. While we were in the time warp, I did have another serious relationship with a girl by the name of Katherine Bell. I believe you and Mrs. Spinnet know her?” Harry asked, and receiving a nod he continued, “Alicia knows that I was completely committed to that relationship and never strayed. As I once told your daughter, for all the playing the field that I did, I truly am looking for that one true love. I want to be loved, and love in return, whole heartedly. I believe marriage is sacred, and will never dishonor my wife, or girlfriend while being committed to her. I love your daughter….sir, I believe I’ve found my true love in her. She‘s amazing.” Harry finished with a reverent tone, while looking up to Alicia when she waved down to him before getting back on the coaster with her mother.

“You think you feel that strongly for her? You haven’t been dating for that long, correct?” Marcel asked.

“No, just about 7 ½ months. I don’t think I feel strongly, sir, I know. I haven’t been romantically involved with Alicia for that long, but we have been dorm mates and very good friends for over 10 years. I love Alicia, sir, and I would like your blessing in this relationship. I can’t undo my past, but I will assure you that as long as Alicia will have me, I’m hers, and hers alone.” Harry said, never breaking eye contact with Marcel.

“Okay, Harry. I will give you my blessing under one condition. She has assured her mother that you two have not been intimate. I want it to stay that way. She has always been taught, and believed that giving herself to only her husband is the most sacred of gifts a woman can give….I’ll not have you take what is not yours to have.” said a very stern Marcel.

“I understand, and will be more than happy to give you an oath to ensure that you will not have to worry about that. As I said before, she has very strong beliefs, and has always been upfront and honest about them. I have no intention on taking something so precious unless it is I that she chooses to make her husband. You have my word as Lord Thurox Potter.” and as he said this last part, a swirl of magic encompassed them both and the oath was sealed.

“Thank you! Wait, did you just hint that you want to marry Alicia?” Marcel asked, shocked.

“Yeah, I guess I just did. I’d be honored if someday, she agreed to be my wife, but I won’t do that until after I defeat Riddle. I won’t risk her being a widow.” said a resolved Harry.

“As much as I understand your feelings, I will say this….she will be heart broken either way, and if you were married before, you could produce a heir. It is not my goal to rush you, Harry, but I don’t think you’ve thought about the Potter line ending. It would be a shame for such a long lineage to end if something should happen to you.”

“I’ll be honest, I never looked at it that way before. I just always envisioned living my life after I took care of Riddle, not before. I do understand what your saying, and I promise to think about it. Not trying to get rid of Alicia….are you?” he finished with a small joke.

“Very funny, Harry. As I said yesterday, I will not part from her easily, but for, what I feel is the right man, I will. I can tell you’re a good man, Harry. I would not be opposed if that is what you both wanted.”

“Thank you, sir.” Harry said, giving Marcel a slight bow of his head.

“So, tell me some of what you did and learned over the last five years.” said Marcel.

After a brief summary of what they had learned, and telling Marcel how truly powerful and talented Alicia was, he started telling him some of the funnier things that had happened, like the prank war. It was laughing men that two women came upon.

“What is so funny, Dad?” asked Alicia, taking a seat in Harry’s lap.

“Oh, Harry was just telling me about the prank war he had with the twins, and how they forfeited fairly quickly….and why! Harry has a lot of his father in him. I remember The Marauders well!” said a chuckling Marcel.

“Harry! That coaster is wonderful….I’ll have to convince Marcel to try it!” Rhonda teased at her husband.

“I don’t know about that contraption, but I wouldn’t be opposed to the race track….” Marcel said, hinting towards Harry with a competitive glint in his eye. Harry now understood where Alicia got hers from. Making there way over to the track, and with Alicia winning the first round, they spent the rest of the day enjoying the rides, and just getting to know one another. After going out to dinner, they all parted company, and Harry headed to his empty home. What had felt good this morning, didn’t feel so right anymore.

As he lay down that evening, he thought over what Marcel had said. ‘Marcel does have a very good point, but am I ready to settle down….for good? I’m only 21.…but my Dad was married at 20. Do I still want to play around….I did enjoy that….but, no, I tired very quickly of it after dating Katie. I really do like being with just one person, and I do love Alicia….’ his thoughts ended as sleep took him over.

The next morning, he flowed Cornelius’s secretary and set up an appointment to meet later that morning. At 11:00am, he made his way through the security check, and headed to the Minister’s office.

“Mr. Potter to see Minister Fudge and Madame Bones.” said Harry to a wide-eyed secretary.

“Uh, yes…Go right on in. The Minister is expecting you.” and as Harry walked to the door, she ogled after him. With a quick wink, letting her know that he knew she was watching him, he entered Cornelius’s office.

“Good morning, Cornelius, Amelia. Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice.” said Harry while shaking their hands.

“It’s quite alright, Harry. I believe we have quite a bit to discuss, first of which, when do you want to visit Azkaban to administer Dumbledore’s punishment?” asked Cornelius.

“As soon as possible. I don’t want any chance that he could escape. I know how powerful he is, so let’s do it soon.” said Harry.

“We could go this afternoon, if it is convenient?” said Amelia.

“That would be fine, but I would like Paole, Moody and Tony with me when I do it. Paole and Moody can watch for any trouble, and Tony….well I always like to have him around whenever I am up against Albus Dumbledore.” Harry said with a small smile.

“That’s fine by me. So, tell me in detail how the training went.” said Cornelius.

It took over two hours to go over everything, from what Harry studied directly, to who was the strongest among the group, even some of the fun they had. Amelia told Harry that Moody was petitioning that all participants be given Auror status, and that about 5 or 6 of them be licensed as Hit Wizards. They ate lunch during the meeting, and when they were through, Harry decided he wanted to share an idea of his, and get some feedback.

“Amelia, Cornelius, I’ve been thinking…..we’ve been able to apprehend a decent number of Death Eater’s while on the defensive, but, I think we should start actively hunting Voldemort and his minions. Not only will we take more of his current members away from him, but as the arrests are publicized, more people will rethink joining him.” said Harry, and after a pause he went on, “We now have almost 50 people that are highly trained fighters who could lead this offensive. I understand that the Auror’s are stretched to their limits, and under Dumbledore, the Order of the Phoenix was a joke, but many of them are good people and could also aid in taking an offensive stance. It’s time Riddle learned that the wizards of Britain will no longer live in fear, and will fight back. I don’t need to remind you, that the longer Riddle is left alone, the closer he comes to accomplishing the ‘Censum Affensa Ab Damnatio’ ritual. I can guess at some of his potential victims, but Merlin only knows who else he wishes to eliminate. Right now, he is weakened, with the majority of his inner circle in custody, but if allowed, he will regroup and train more fighters himself. We need to take advantage of the situation, and strike back…HARD!” finished Harry, an authority shining through that neither Amelia nor Cornelius had seen from him.

“Amelia, how long before we could have the ‘Warp Crew’ licensed and cleared for this kind of mission?” asked Cornelius, mulling over Harry’s idea.

“I could have all the paperwork rushed through in about 3 days. Personally, I like this idea. With some fine tuning and input from some of my senior staff, I would say we could be ready by early next week to start the mission. The sooner we get started, the less prepared Riddle will be. It won‘t be long before he figures out that you all have been in the time warp, training and preparing for this fight.” said an encouraged Amelia.

“Get it done. Harry, get with Moody, Amelia and anyone else you two think are good strategists, and work out the details. Bring the whole thing to me on Friday, and we’ll go from there.” said Cornelius.

“Thank you. I don’t know about you two, but I’m sick and tired of this war, and want to get it finished as soon as possible. Riddle won’t know what hit him.” finished Harry.

Shortly after 2:00pm, with Paole, Moody, Tony, Amelia and Cornelius, Harry was on his way to Azkaban. As the boat approached, he couldn’t get over how dirty and dreary the place was. Instantly, he felt a true sorrowful understanding of what Sirius had been through….how truly unfair it was to the innocent man. After entering the main fortress, they were all escorted to a room that was just past the warden’s office.

“If you will all wait here, we will retrieve the prisoner.” said one Auror.

“Wait! Cornelius, didn’t you say before that Dumbledore’s cell was also spelled to help keep him suppressed?” asked Harry.

“Yes. What’s your point, Harry. I can see something is troubling you.” said a concerned Cornelius.

“Just call it instinct, but we should go to Dumbledore’s cell, not remove him from it. I can’t tell you what it is, but just trust me on this. My gut feelings are usually right, besides, what could it hurt to be extra cautious.” said Harry.

“Minister, I agree. Many times over the last five years, I have seen him follow what he felt was right, even when we thought it crazy, and he generally turns out to be right.” stated Paole, getting agreeable nods from Moody and Tony.

“Very well, I see your point. Auror, please escort us to Mr. Dumbledore’s cell.” Cornelius ordered.

It took about 10 minutes to reach the depths of where Dumbledore was being held. When they approached, the door was made transparent, and a previously unused light was ignited within the cell. They all watched as a much older looking Dumbledore tried to get his eyes to adjust to the uncommon brightness, and then he turned to look upon the people there to see him.

“Hello, Cornelius, Amelia, Harry. Harry, you certainly have changed. What can I do for you?” asked Dumbledore.

“Amazing…you’d think we had just stopped by for tea. Sorry to burst your bubble, but we have just come to complete the remaining part of your punishment. I will be stripping you of your magic….today.” said Harry, shaking his head at the old man.

“Ah……Harry, do you think it wise? You know that Tom is only holding back because he fears me. You take that away, and he will come after you, Hogwarts, and the Ministry. Taking my magic is truly not for the best, don’t you agree?” Dumbledore said, trying to use his twinkle, but because to the suppressors, it failed spectacularly….at least in everyone else’s opinion.

“I will have to disagree with you on that. Don’t worry though, we have our own plans in motion to take care of the problem. You’re help is neither needed nor requested. Now, let’s get on with this. Moody, go in first, and secure the new suppressing bands, and then escort him out of the cell. Once outside, I will immediately start the process, and when I motion to you, take the suppressor’s off, so I can strip all the magic from his system. Are the Anti-Apparation and Portkey wards up and fully functional? I’ll not take any risks.” stated Harry.

“Harry, you must rethink this! You will be damaged by the influx of my magic, then who would the wizarding world turn to?” said a desperate Dumbledore.

Ignoring the plea’s, he asked, “Gentlemen, Amelia, are we ready?” Receiving confirmations, Moody entered the cell and added the new bands to a struggling Dumbledore. When they were on, it appeared to be painful, and Dumbledore fought to stay standing. Pushing everyone back, Harry gathered the mist in his glands, and once Dumbledore was out of his cell, he froze him first, then Harry released a bright white mist, letting it infiltrate Dumbledore’s system. The hardest part to using ‘The Breath’, was deciphering the feeling within himself as to how long the mist needed to remain within the other person’s body. Harry could feel the mist working, and after 2 minutes, indicated for Moody to remove the suppressors, where he immediately began the reverse flow of the now dark dreary gray mist, stealing the magic from Dumbledore as it left his body. As the last of the mist was consumed by Harry, he staggered into Paole, and was eased to the floor.

“Damn….that…is…disgusting.” Harry said, panting with a groan.

“Are you going to be okay?” asked Paole.

“Yeah….just let me sit for a few minutes…..Dumbledore was…..enormously powerful….it will take about 5-10 minutes……before my body can diffuse…..and deaden the magic….I’ll need to stay where I…..am till that happens.” Harry finished, panting and wincing every now and again as if in pain.

After 7 minutes, Harry began coughing out a blackish air that hung before him, forming into a ball shape, and when he stopped, he took his wand and vanished the blacken air from the area. Done, he leaned back against the wall and caught his breath.

“What the hell was that, Potter!” growled a worried Moody, who had witnessed ‘The Breath’ on the dummies during his training, and never saw anything like what just happened.

“That was Dumbledore’s magic, or what was left of it after my body absorbed the good part of it. You sure were an evil bastard….” Harry trailed off, looking at the now squib Dumbledore.

“Can you explain it a little better than that, please….for us mere humans?” said Tony.

With a tired chuckle, Harry tried to explain, “Well, from what the journals described, and from what my body just seems to know, that was, for lack of a better way to put this, Dumbledore’s feelings, or intent….something like that. I can’t really explain it. The magic I absorbed was a purified…ah...filtered magic, I guess. The black air were the impurities or the way he used his magic….” Harry finished with a shrug. He really couldn’t describe what was just instinctual for him.

“What happened to the magic you absorbed? Are you going to be okay?” asked a concerned Amelia.

“I’ll be fine. It’ll dissipate out of my system over the next few hours, leaving me feeling slightly tired until the process is finished. Can someone scan him….I want to make sure we got all of his magic.” finished Harry.

Paole and Moody both scanned his magic levels, and when all were satisfied that Albus Dumbledore was now nothing more than a muggle, Harry turned to him and said, “You’ll never be able to harm anyone again. I hope you live many years reliving the hell you put everyone through….especially Tom and myself, since we suffered the worst by your hands.”

“Harry, you have just made the biggest mistake of your young life. Voldemort will win now!” said an overwhelmed Dumbledore.

“You really do think very highly of yourself, don’t you. If we do lose, it will still be your responsibility, because maybe if you had actually helped Tom or me, we wouldn’t be here now. But the great Albus Dumbledore can do no wrong….what you thought and said was all that anyone needed to know or hear. Well, you were wrong, and now your through. No longer will you control and manipulate peoples lives.” Harry said in the coldest tone Dumbledore had ever heard from the young man.

Giving one last disgusted look to the prisoner, the group started making their way back up to the surface, Paole supporting Harry around his waist due to his fatigue. Normally, Harry would not be this bad, but because of the power and vileness of Dumbledore’s magic, it had affected him worse. He snorted to himself as he thought, ‘Wonder what Tom’s must feel like….I’d probably be spewing black for week. That was about the nasty feeling I’ve ever experienced.’ and he felt a small shudder make its way down his spine.

On the trip back across the sea and to the Ministry, they discussed the relocation of the prisoners and it was agreed that Snape would also be moved…just in case. They would be moved on Wednesday, and all would be wearing suppressing bands, and only a select few would know where each individual prisoner was being sent. The Auror’s that were escorting the prisoners would be obliviated once the portkey they had deposited them back at the Ministry.

Paole made sure Harry made it back to his home, and after settling him in, fire-called Alicia to come over. When she arrived, Alicia noticed that Harry was pasty looking and seem exhausted. “Harry, what have you done now?” she asked.

“I’ve just stripped Dumbledore of his magic, and let me tell you, it wasn’t fun. I’ll be okay in a bit.” Harry said as she pulled his head into her lap and began carding her fingers through his hair.

“Paole, thanks for getting him back here. I’ve got him now, besides, Dobby and Winky will be back soon, and they will be able to help me if I need it.” Alicia said, and after a quick good bye, Paole left.

“Harry….what am I going to do with you? You do know that being your girlfriend is not the easiest thing I’ve ever done….but, I do love you…..you big oaf.” she said teasingly.

“Well, loving you is by far the easiest thing I’ve ever done….” Harry trailed off, falling asleep under Alicia’s caring and soothing strokes. While she watched him drift off, his last comment left a soft smile on her face, and whispering to him softly she said “Sleep baby, I’ve got you.”

It was after 7:00pm before he roused from his peaceful nap, feeling Alicia in his arms. Somehow during the last couple of hours, they had ended up laying flat on the couch, her head resting over his heart. Peaking an eye open, he saw her smiling gently up at him and she quietly asked, “Do you feel any better?”

“Yeah. How could I not, with you here taking care of me. Thanks for staying with me.” he said, bending to giving the top of her head a kiss.

“Are you hungry? Dobby and Winky are back, and have had dinner holding for about an hour. I could ask them to serve us in here.” she suggested after sitting up, pulling him with her.

“Sounds good. I’m just going to go and splash some water on my face. I’ll be right back.” he said standing.

They enjoyed a quiet dinner and he explained what had happened during the meeting with Amelia and Cornelius, and described what it was like to use ‘The Breath’ on his first live victim and all that went on after. They went to take a leisurely dip in the pool after dinner, as Harry still felt somewhat exhausted. It would still be several hours before Dumbledore’s magic would be completely out of his system. When Alicia left shortly before midnight, once again he was assaulted by the emptiness of the Manor and how wrong that was.

Over the next couple of days, Harry was busy meeting with everyone involved with the new mission that had been labeled ‘Operation Take Down’. On Friday, he made his way to Gringotts in the morning, and retrieved a few things he wanted from the Potter vault. He visited with Hordak, Smyte, Koldbuk and the 7 ritual castors for the morning, and after he left to head over to the Ministry for the meeting with Cornelius, Hordak said with a feral smile, “That young man is going to change this world…..I can’t wait to see what he does next!”